Serpa Congratulates new State Police Superintendent Ann Assumpico

STATE HOUSE — Rep. Patricia Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) is heralding Gov. Gina Raimondo’s appointment of West Warwick native Ann C. as superintendent of State Police and director of the Department of Public Safety.

“It is very gratifying to see that the first woman to ever head the Rhode Island State Police is such a dedicated and professional law enforcement officer,” said Representative Serpa. “I worked with Ann’s mother in the West Warwick School Department for years and have known the Assumpicos for a long time. This is good news for Rhode Island and for the Department of Public Safety.”

By law, the State Police superintendent also serves as the director of Public Safety, overseeing not only the State Police, but the Capitol Police, the Division of Sheriffs, the State Fire Marshal, the E911 Uniform Emergency Telephone System, the Municipal Police Training Academy and the Public Safety Grants Administration Office, according to a release from the RI Legislative Press and Information Bureau.

Colonel Assumpico’s career in law enforcement began 40 years ago when she served as a correctional officer at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institute (ACI). During that time, she was also an ACI Academy Self-Defense Instructor, a member of the ACI Tactical Team holding the rank of Assistant Squad Leader, and a member of their Extraction Team. After serving at the ACI for 8 years, Colonel Assumpico attended the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy and joined the Coventry Police Department where she served for 7 years as a patrol officer and member of the SWAT Team, according an announcement on her promotion on the RI State Police website.

Colonel Assumpico has served the past 24 years with the Rhode Island State Police after graduating from the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy in 1992. She served in the Patrol Bureau for 15 years at all of the barracks. She was also a member of the Honor Guard Unit and night executive officer, as well as a defensive tactics instructor, firearms instructor, field training officer, domestic violence instructor, peer counselor, and part-time instructor at the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy. She served 9 years in the Planning, Research & Accreditation Unit where she served as the Officer-in-Charge. Colonel Assumpico was promoted to captain in 2015 and most recently served as the Director of Training for the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy and Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy.

Throughout her career she has trained both correctional officers and law enforcement officers in self-defense and firearms. Colonel Assumpico was the first and only woman to have ever worked as a firearms instructor for the Rhode Island State Police.

A fifth degree black belt in martial arts, she has won 10 World Police and Fire Games gold medals in multiple sports and has won 20 Word Champion karate titles. She has also been inducted into 10 different martial arts halls of fame.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University and a Master of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from Salve Regina University. She previously served as an adjunct faculty member at Salve Regina University.

“This is twice that West Warwick has provided a superintendent for the Rhode Island State Police (the other being retired Col. Steven M. Paré),” said Representative Serpa. “And I’m proud that my hometown produces so many professional police officers.”

Ann Assumpico is currently a captain on the Rhode Island State Police, where she serves as the director of training, overseeing the operations of the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy and the Municipal Police Training Academy. Before joining the State Police, she served eight years as a corrections officer at the Adult Correctional institutions and seven years on the Coventry Police Department. She is a graduate of West Warwick High School, holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree in justice administration from Salve Regina University. She resides in Coventry.